Indian River County OKs Lagoon Greenway project grant request

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — By early 2013, residents and visitors can look forward to walking through a native forest and over wetlands to an observation deck as part of the Indian River Lagoon Greenway.

County Environmental Planning Chief Roland DeBlois recently got the County Commission's approval to seek a $156,000 grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District toward the third and final phase, engineering and construction of the wetland boardwalk and observation deck.

"The concept here is to get to a dirt trail (on the lagoon shore) and then you could go north and south to various locations," he said. "We've got easements along the dirt trail."

County contractors last year completed a $37,000 first phase, spreading a shell-rock blend among the oaks northeast of Eighth Street and Indian River Boulevard to create 11 unpaved parking spaces on the southwest corner of the county's 37-acre Flinn Tract Conservation Area.

That is the trailhead, DeBlois said. And it will all be part of the 187-acre Indian River Lagoon Greenway.

Currently, he said, contractors are completing a $49,301 loop trail in the upland forest part.

The Indian River Lagoon Greenway will meander from the trailhead east toward the lagoon, using a series of hiking and bicycling trails and the elevated boardwalk, the priciest item.

"The whole idea is to provide another opportunity for recreation," County Commissioner Peter O'Bryan said.

Land Trust Executive Director Ken Grudens said his agency, the county, the Florida Inland Navigation District and the River Park Association are all owners of parts of the Lagoon Greenway.